Haying Fire Near Dade Creek

Around 3:50 pm on Friday, July 21st on Ben Galt’s Catlin Ranch, an unassuming worker was mowing the very edge of one of the hay pivots, off the area where the pivot actually functions, when suddenly smoke filled the air. The small fire quickly escalated in the hot and dry conditions. The flames quickly engulfed the mowed hay and the surroundings that were left to be cut. Dried cow manure and other weeds also added fuel to the flames. Grey smoke could be seen billowing from many, many miles away. The worker swiftly moved the tractor and mower combination before running to grab the ranch’s water truck that was located nearby for such an occasion. Neighbors and other ranch workers quickly smelled smoke and came running and driving from miles distance to help. Shovels and flappers (a mud flap like rubber material attached to a wooden stick) were used in attempt to contain some of the flames in combinations with the water being spewed onto the burning land. 911 was called and county workers responded quickly—the first of the fleet to arrive at approximately 4:15 pm. With the ranch workers and neighbors efforts, the haying fire was mostly under control by the time the volunteer fire department and law enforcement were able to reach the scene, which was located nearly 35 minutes from White Sulphur Springs. Several water trucks and even a neighbor’s helicopter approached the fire to dump water on the burning hay. The ranch also had a Cat machine on the pivot which was conveniently used to drag a fire line. The most likely culprit of the fire was a sharp mower blade striking a rock and, in turn, accidentally igniting a spark. This, unfortunately, is a common occurrence for many ranchers and farmers in the dry months of July, August, and September. The fire was contained by 4:30 pm and completely snuffed by 5:00 pm. No one was harmed by the event and all equipment was safe.